View full sizeBenjamin Brink/The OregonianBeaverton's custodian restructuring plan needs improvement, according to a survey of custodians and school district administrators

Beaverton School District got a big thumbs down on its controversial restructuring of custodial services, according to a survey of district administrators and custodians released this week.

As a cost-saving move, the school district restructured its custodial services last summer, reducing their numbers and shortening the calendar for some as well as moving to a central management system. Previously, principals supervised their building's custodians.

Asked if the process used to develop the plan was appropriate -- 147 people disagreed and 9 agreed.

Are the current custodial services better or worse -- 138 said worse and 26 said better.

Has the system for accountability been appropriate -- 137 no and 21 yes.

Was there a need for the custodial restructuring -- 97 no and 47 yes.

Comments from the interviews included concerns about morale and trust.

"Most believe the situation can be improved, but it will take time, hard work, patience, and a renewed focus on the goals and values of the District. Most believe relationships need to be healed before progress can be made on the operational issues. Some believe too much relational harm has been done," according to the survey.

Last spring, the school district sent layoff notices to 50 of its 168 custodians, catching many by surprise. The workers' weren't being laid off but their positions were being eliminated. Originally, the restructuring plan would have moved many custodians to new schools and cut their school year from 260 days to 185 days.

As complaints rose, the district modified the plan, and decided only new hires would work 185 days a year.

The survey and interviews, which cost $20,000, were the first two steps in the district's assessment of the changes. The third step is to form a working group, which includes custodial staff and principals, to focus on making improvements. District spokeswoman Maureen Wheeler said such surveys are not uncommon in the district when it wants to assess new programs or departments.

"It's a good practice because it was a challenging reorganization," she said.